Comparative evaluation of co-management impacts on protected area: A case study from Lawachara National Park, Maulvibazar, Sylhet (original) (raw)
Related papers
2007
An exploratory study was conducted in Lawachara National Park (LNP) to make a comparative analysis of co-management practice in protected area management. This study compares the socioeconomic condition (income, social status, living style etc.) and forest dependency before and after implementation of co-management activities in LNP. A total 40 households out of 153 were interviewed from 3 study villages namely Magurchara Punji, Dalubari and Radhanagar. Data analysis shows that major income generating livelihood activities in study villages were, agro farming (30%), followed by fuelwood collection (22.50%), nursery raising (12.50%), cattle farming (10%), fisheries (7.50%) and others. Study also reveals that after being implementation of co-management activities the average income level of 3 studied villages have rises on average 550 taka/HHs (1 US $ = Taka 70). Furthermore, many of the former illegal loggers became forest protector which makes their life more secured and respectable in the society than before. It was also found that peoples of study villages are now actively engaging in forest management activities and it is the only hope for conservation and restoration of forest resources not only in LNP but also in other protected areas of our country.
Journal of Forest …, 2009
Forests render both a home and a livelihood for people living in and around them. To reconcile the need of local communities with conservation, the Nishorgo Support Project (NSP or Nishorgo) is supporting co-management in five protected areas of Bangladesh, including Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. The main focus of this study is to assess the effectiveness of alternate income generating activities (AIGAs) which is provided by the Nishorgo Support Project. It is a tool for reducing dependence on forest resources by people living in and around Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary and also play effective role in forest conservation. This study compares the socioeconomic condition (income, living style etc.) and forest dependency before and after implementation of co-management activities in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 11 villages (sampling intensity was 31%) namely Kalibari, Mongoliabari, Chokidarbari, Chonbari, kalenga, Krishnochura, Hatimara, Himalia, Rashidpur, Goramchori and Horinmara were studied. We surveyed 272 households in these villages (Incase of households survey, sampling intensity was 100%). Data analysis shows that the major income generating livelihood activities were agro farming (30%), followed by fuelwood collection (22.50%), nursery raising (12.5%), cattle rearing (10%), fisheries (7.50%) and others. Study also reveals that after being implementation of the co-management activities the average income levels of the studied villages have rises on 578 Tk/households (1US$ = 70 Taka, Taka means Bangladeshi currency). Further more, many of the illegal loggers became forest protector, which make their life more secured. It was also found that peoples of the study villages are now actively engaging in forest management activities and it is the only hope for conservation and restoration of forest resources not only in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary but also in other protected area's of our country.
Forests, Trees and …, 2012
Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) is a rather recent and widely promoted, and hence, accepted paradigm for managing protected areas in most developing countries. Protected area managers in Bangladesh face challenges because of the complex sociocultural and political dynamics that result from the high population densities and extreme poverty of people living in or near lands designated for conservation. In recent years the government of Bangladesh, with active support from international aid and conservation agencies, has tried to develop a holistic approach to protected area management involving forest communities and user groups. This study seeks to explore the initial response to such intervention in a newly declared protected area in order to gain insights about wider implications in other parts of the country. The study was conducted between January 2006 and January 2007 in four villages located in or near Satchari National Park. Results suggest considerable change took place in household forest resource collection patterns, and people's dependency on non-forest income increased significantly during the project implementation period. The study also indicated that although changes occurred slowly, they brought improvements to the livelihoods of those relying on local forests.
Livelihoods of Forest-dependent People in Kaptai National Park
2011
Forests provide both a home and livelihood for people living in and around them and serve as vital safety nets for the rural poor. In Bangladesh, forest resources are being depleted at alarming rates due to over exploitation. Local communities practice swidden farming (jhum) in hill districts in Bangladesh and survive lean periods by collecting wild fruits, leaves, and tubers from forest reserves. In response to growing pressures on forests, in 2009 the Bangladesh Forest Department initiated a co-management program with the assistance of the Integrated Protected Area and Co-Management (IPAC) Project. In this paper I examine the livelihood patterns and needs of residents in two villages (Bangchari and Kamillochari) in Kaptai National Park in order to highlight how conservation can be linked to the welfare of local communities. I argue that local residents are fully dependent on the park and are therefore excited to participate in co-management programs.
isara solutions, 2022
Forest is integral part of rural livelihood, role of forest in agro-forest economy is vital. In agro-forest economy forest wealth is essential livelihood resources basin for people. But forest laws and livelihood of people become combatant to each other. One side forest officialdom claim they are the ecological patriot, who can protect entire forest wealth from people. In their view people are encroacher of green wealth but another side villager uses to blame that forest officials are self-serving ecological patriot, which curtail their rights of livelihood by imposing half-hearted policy and program of colonial forest knowledge. Village people have their eco-specific socio-cultural practices, which govern their resource usage. Both parties blame each other for forest destruction by which green governance has become game of allegation and counter allegations. But in this game deforestation and destruction to forest resources is going on in various form. So for the protection of precious forest wealth and green cover there is need of participation of resource using local communities. User should be made stakeholder of the resources then there would be democratization of forest governance. Otherwise people are paying ecological and social cost of bureaucratic model of forest governance, which has given veto power to forest department and asymmetrical power in decision making process to forest functionaries. In rural agro-forest and agro-pastoral economy people are mostly dependent on forest resources to extract essential livelihood resources. In some region of Himachal Pradesh there are forest protection committees and patrol groups of people by which they protect forests. These forest fringes forest dwellers have their own ecological calendar, which steered their agriculture and horticultural activities. Democracy is not only to conduct periodical cyclical elections it is about participation of people, so there should be forest knowledge of the people, by the people and for the people. Key word: agro-forest economy, agro-pastoral economy, ecological patriot, forest protection committee, patrol group, ecological calendar. Methodology The entire paper is excerpted from the interview schedule of Naggar forest Range's Jana village, which is selected for field work of Ph.D. in which forest dependent villagers have been interviewed with the help of semi-structured interview schedule and focused group study method.
Protected Area governance-a new approach to make conservation count towards sustainable livelihoods
Globally conservationists, policy makers and implementing agencies came to a consensus that conservation of natural ecosystems requires local community involvement not only for protecting the biodiversity but also creating sustainable job opportunities and livelihoods. This approach is consistent with the global movement towards conservation models that include eco-tourism, scientifi c research, and environmental education including forestry, wildlife, and fi sheries. In this respect, Tangail Forest Division (TFD) has set a benchmark by engaging the local communities into the conservation of Madhupur forest. TFD has successfully implemented the concept of eco-agriculture in creating jobs for the locals. " Revegetation of Madhupur forest through Rehabilitation of Local and Ethnic communities " project has been established as a protected area conservation friendly scheme where the community forest workers (CFW) are trained with various Alternative Income Generation (AIG) activities. In addition, TFD has brought under reforestation of 1520 hectares of encroached forest land with native plants. Moreover, 5000 forest dependent families planted 200 saplings, established kitchen gardens and a compost plant. They have improved their stoves and focused on rearing cattle in their own homestead. Furthermore, free health care facilities and registered cooperative societies have been formed. With this approach of linking communities to conservation and development activities, logging and poaching has declined signifi cantly and the forest is now rejuvenated with fl ora and fauna. So, to protect the important natural ecosystems and biodiversity steps need to be taken to support AIG for the livelihoods of local people and their needs. These effective approaches are replicable to ensure social, environmental and economic sustainability of forests.
Asian journal of forestry, 2022
Co-management of forest protected areas (PA) has started its journey in Bangladesh, intending to conserve forest resources by creating alternative incomegenerating activities for forest-dependent people. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of co-management initiatives in improving socioeconomic status and reducing peoples' forest dependency at Dudpukuria-Dhopachari Wildlife Sanctuary (DDWS), Bangladesh. A total of 142 respondents consisting of 71 co-management project-supported people (treatment) and 71 local people (control) with similar socioeconomic conditions without any project support, were surveyed randomly through a semi-structured questionnaire. The Difference in Differences (DiD) method was applied to assess the effectiveness of this program. Results revealed that there was an insignificant difference between co-management participants and non-participants in the case of total income. Both parties also observed a similar trend for total forest resource extraction. However, the monthly income of co-management participants from secondary occupations increased by USD 16.46. In contrast, the monthly fuel wood extraction of the co-management participants was reduced, equivalent to USD 2.21. The studied socioeconomic parameters were more or less similar for both parties. We conclude that the co-management interventions in DDWS resulted from insignificant differences in terms of socioeconomic conditions and forest dependency of local forest-dependent communities.
Provides a brief account of the development of the Joint Forest Management Scheme in India, especially in West Bengal, the state where joint forest management has been most widely adopted and which provided the genesis of the scheme that was adopted as part of India’s Forest Policy 1988. The development, nature of and rationale for the scheme are discussed. Results to a survey of household heads in villages in the neighbourhood of state forests in the Midnapore region of West Bengal are reported. The survey provides information about the dependence of villagers on forest resources, the sustainability of current forest use as perceived by villagers, and reports their views about forest management issues, including the Joint Forest Management Scheme. The concerns of villagers about joint forest management are identified and analysed. It is suggested that some writers have been too ready to promote the sustainability and social welfare benefits of joint forest management as now practiced. Some of its important limitations are identified. While it is preferable to open-access, the system in India is as yet deficient in terms of communal and social management.
This study, conducted in nine villages undertaking joint forest management (JFM) in Sabharkantha (South) Forest Division, Gujarat, is an attempt to assess the impact of protection and management on socio-economic of tribal people. The majority of the JFM areas showed that women participated actively in meetings, decision making and executing the works compared to before JFM committee. The major source of income was wage employment (58%) and fodder collection (26%). The income from NTFP was very low (6%) initial year of project. Findings indicate the need to promoting tribal people for protection more forest area of each village for their sustainable livelihood. [Nature and Science 2010;8(8):168-173]. (ISSN: 1545-0740).
The Indian Forest Policy of 1988 (MoEF,GoI.1988) and the subsequent government resolution on participatory forest management (MoEF,GoI.1990) emphasize the need for Community-based programme in forest management, which is popularly known as Joint Forest Management(JFM) programme in India. The basic objectives of the programme are proper management and conservation of forests, improving the livelihoods of forest dweller communities and reducing rural poverty. West Bengal is the pioneer state in India in introducing Joint Forest Management has come a long way in 1971-72 at Arabari research station in Midnapore district. The present paper concludes that balance between sustainability of the Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme and Forest dwellers participation for protection of forest in South West Bengal.